Ouch! I have had cramp in my left calf for about 6 days now

[KatyMac]

And nothing is shifting it

Massage, hot baths, cold baths, shaking, standing on it bending my ties back

Just ow!

Erm, have you checked it isn't a clot?!

Cramps usually last minutes not days. As pp said I would also want to rule out a clot!

Bananas

That is a long time.

Have you been drinking enough fluids?

Even better would be a hydration drink.

Is it swollen, hot or health anxiety?

I'll have another banana!

I was thinking sciatica rather than a clot but I'll have a think thanks

Definitely check this isn’t a clot OP!

Not swollen or hot, hard and a bit throbbing

Pretty good at drinking (fluid, I'm teetotal!)

I feel if I could get/stretch my foot at the right angle it might go...but I can't find that place

You don't always get the symptoms like it being hot even if it is a clot. Had you been travelling and or sitting still a lot just before this happened? I really would get it checked out. That is probably A&E unfortunately. The initial test is a D Dimer blood test which they will do there. I would either go tonight or first thing tomorrow.

Have some salt. Crisps pr marmite on toast help me

Go through the 111 process right away, either calling them, or online. It could possibly be a blood clot, I’ve had 2 with no swelling or redness, only pain. Don’t worry about wasting anyone’s time, they would far rather you were safe than sorry.

Edited to add: and do what 111 tells you to do!

I did online 111 & I'll get a GP call back in 6 hours

I just assumed it was cramp

Have you had a proper massage from a physio/osteo?

Proper massage booked for tomorrow (physio)

Tonic water, magnesium, potassium, salt. If I can feel cramp coming on before bed I always take 2x magnesium supplements and a potassium, and it generally subsides. My mum & MIL swore by tonic water (it’s the quinine, I think, if that’s even an ingredient any more?).

But yeah, you should def get it checked for anything more serious.

Be careful about vigorous massage if it could be a clot/varicose.

I don’t think you should have a massage in case it is a clot? Surely it could dislodge it.

Yes, these are the things I would think about rather than massage, etc.

Please please please don’t go for that massage! See a doctor and get a blood clot ruled out first.

I take magnesium and potassium most days

Haven't got tonic

I honestly was more thinking sciatica/cramp but 111 will decide I guess

A 6 day cramp would be extremely unusual. If you haven't done anything that could have given you a calf strain then I would be taking the possibility of a DVT seriously. They don't need to be hot and red, that isn't part of the diagnostic criteria. They can be quite subtle. I think (as a physio) it's really unlikely that if you see a physio tomorrow they will massage it/I really hope they don't! Massaging anything that even looks a bit like a DVT is a real no-no! I'd save your money and get seen in urgent care or by the out of hours GP if they have the ability to refer locally for a doppler/d-dimer instead.

Glad you phoned 111.

A&E